TWICC: This Week in Candy Cornness: Installment 1 (of 5)

What’s a PRODcast?

A prodcast differs from a podcast in that there is no audio (we don’t have any recording equipment). Instead, we just “cast” information into our plog (poetry blog) about a pressing issue – in this case, candy corn – and hope that it prods our readers into taking action.

Why "TWICC: This Week in Candy Cornness"?

Last week, Elon James White, the host of a struggling podcast called TWIB (This Week in Blackness) tweeted a callous statement to Donald Trump asserting that he was “the candy corn of people.” Therefore, we decided to take simultaneous actions of standing up and taking a knee for candy corn with a month-long prodcast, "TWICC: This Week in Candy Cornness."

We hope our weekly articles throughout the month of October will prod you to take action in support of candy corn lovers.​

What events happened to prompt our prodcast, TWICC?

We wrote a succinct account of White’s harsh proclamation HERE, and we followed that with a forceful report on the reaction form the world of candy corn, HERE.

In short, a unified fusion of associations and organizations representing every facet surrounding the manufacturing and marketing of candy corn came to the table with one demand: an apology from Mr. White.​

Pictured below: An exclusive photo of Candace "Candy" Koren on hold with the corporate headquarters of TWIB.FM in Oakland, California. Soon after Mr. White made his insulting remark about candy corn, Ms. Koren called the TWIB.FM headquarters and demanded to speak to Mr. White. She was placed on hold, and she has been on hold ever since. Ms. Koren has refused to hang up the line, as she is completely determined to remain on hold until Mr. White picks up the phone!

A REACTION FROM THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATION

Cornelius Quigg, the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Administrator at the American Psychological Association said that the telephones at the APA global headquarters have been ringing off the hook since Mr. White made his insensitive comments.

Mr. Quigg repored that CCAD and CCD -- Candy Corn Affective Disorder and Candy Corn Depression -- are the two fastest growing psychological disorders in the United States.

"They are also the most difficult to treat," he said, "because of the constant onslaught of remarks like those made by Mr. White."

Mr. Quigg added that candy corn lovers represent the most ridiculed and tormented members of society. ​

What can you do?

1. If you are a candy corn lover, always act with awareness, calm, respect and confidence.

3. Set boundaries about disrespectful behavior if and when anyone begins to mistreat and misrepresent candy corn and candy corn lovers.

4. Protect your feelings from name calling and hurtful behavior by rushing to the grocery store to purchase a one-pound bag of candy corn any time you encounter harassment for your love of candy corn.

5. Speak up for positive inclusion of candy corn lovers.

6. Be persistent in enlisting help from other candy corn lovers.

7. Use physical self-defense if and when necessary. There is no reason why you or anyone should have to endure candy corn abuse.

Take heart:

Melania Trump has promised to initiate an anti-candy-corn-bullying campaign! We look forward to hearing from her on how society can finally end this merciless epidemic.

COMING NEXT WEEK

This concludes this week's prodcast, " TWICC: This Week in Candy Cornness." We hope the information contained within will prod you to take action against candy corn cruelty of any kind.

Next week we will focus on the history of vegetable candies, and we will report on how candy corn has outlasted them all!

As a bonus in our next prodcast, we will include vital information on how lovers of candy corn can avoid getting mixed up with those dreadful people who like those spongy candy "circus peanuts." Talk about a piece of candy crap -- circus peanuts are terrible! That's what Elon James White should have said -- that Donald Trump was one of those god-awful marshmallow circus peanuts!

Today is National Poetry Day -- a day established in 1953 to celebrate Emmett Lee Dickinson's 100th year. Although he was born on October 12, 1803, his first book of poetry was published on September 28, 1853.

In honor of the day, I thought I would share two short poems by Dickinson that revolutionized the public's view of poetry:​

A poem for spring/summer:

​Roses are redViolets are blueToday is National Poetry DayAnd violets are blue because​ nothing rhymes with purple

A poem for fall/winter:

Roses are deadViolets are throughThe Blonde Assassin passesOn his way to you​

The world of candy corn lovers was turned upside down today due to a callous, cold-hearted tweet by one Elon James White to Donald Trump: “Nobody likes you,” tweeted Mr. White. “You literally make everything you touch worse. You’re the candy corn of people.”

The candy corn of people?!?!

A recap of an exchange that ensued was the subject of Part 1 of our post, “TWICC: This Week in Candy Cornness,” HERE.

As a result of Mr. White’s insensitivity toward candy corn and candy corn lovers, the following associations and organizations have joined together tonight to issue a single demand – that he apologize!

The esteemed assemblage behind this petition consists of the following:

The North American Candy Corn Council

The American Federation of Candy Corn Distributors

The International Society of Candy Corn Consumers

The Guild of American Candy Corn Makers

The National Center for the Study of Candy Corn

Candy Corn Eaters Anonymous

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Candy Corn Lovers

The Canadian Association for Applied and Therapeutic Candy Corn Studies

The World Association of Candy Corn Distributor Networking

The American Association of Candy Technologists

The Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts, an organization devoted to extolling the life of Emmett Lee Dickinson, Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed (at her request) – and the inventor of candy corn.

The Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum

This collection of candy corn producers, distributors, marketer, and lovers has issued the following proclamation:

Whereas candy corn is the number one rated candy in the world ~

Whereas Donald Trump’s facial make up is closer in color to a national brand of crunchy puffed cheese snacks than it is to candy corn ~

Whereas candy corn lovers are the most ridiculed and oppressed candy lovers in the world ~

We, the world’s manufacturers, distributors, researchers, and consumers of candy corn, demand an immediate apology from Elon James White for comparing Donald Trump to candy corn.

We do not know how Mr. White will respond to our singular demand. At this point in time, though, we do not anticipate this to be a short-lived battle in the War on Candy Corn. We are steadfast, though, in our determination to fight for lovers of candy corn as National Candy Corn Day approaches (celebrated annually on October 30th).

Today started out like any normal Sunday: Trump threw a twitter tantrum in his efforts to divide the nation even further; internet trolls mocked individuals who supported others' rights to conduct silent and peaceful protests; the latest political controversy readied itself to play out in NFL stadiums across the country. And then – and then came the tweet that shocked the world (and it didn’t come from an orange-tinted dotard).No, the tweet came @elonjames. His profile reads, “Host, @TWIBprime@FreespeechTV, CEO, @TWIBnation. Creator, #DaddyGameProper#DGProper, EIC, http://twib.today Contact: ejw.biz@twib.me #TWIBnation.”

Click images below to enlarge.

Here’s the tweet that started the commotion:

​Throughout the day I heard from many in the establishment of the candy corn world, and I took a leading role by responding to Mr. White’s heartless and painful tweet:

After hearing from virtually every major candy corn association and organization from around the world, I alerted Mr. White that together we would prepare a demand for an apology:

Mr. White was nothing more than heartless and defiant:

I was intrepid with my response:

​Mr. White continued to taunt me:

I was resolute in my determination and determined in my resolution to defend the honor of candy cornists around the globe:

My doggedness paid off as tweeple from around the internets rallied to support the cause:

This clash has literally gone viral in the world of candy corn -- for as you can see from the images of the tweets above, some of them were retweeted, liked or responded to tens of times. Mr. White's affront to lovers of candy corn has united the resolve of more than ten candy corn associations and organizations from around the world to demand an apology for his callous comment -- and that is the subject of Part 2 of "TWICC: The Week in Candy Cornness."

Now that we're in the heart of pumpkin spice season, I've been writing about pumpkin spice and sharing poems about pumpkin spice by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). You can ready my posts HERE, HERE and HERE.

Today, I thought I would share EIGHT FACTS about pumpkin spice that most people might not know:

1. After her popularity began to eclipse the other members of the group, Pumpkin Spice was replaced by the Spice Gils with Scary Spice.

2. Some of Donald Trump’s facial make up is called Pumpkin Spice.

3. The pumpkin spice patch (at the left) is the third most prescribed addiction patch, behind NicoDerm’s extended release nicotine patch and Transderm Scōp’s prescription patch, Nachonix, used for adults to help reduce cravings for Dorito’s nacho-flavored chips, including Jacked 3D Bacon Cheddar Ranch chips, Jacked Spicy Street Taco chips, and Dinamita Fiery Habenero chips.4. Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) is the only poet to have written poems about pumpkin spice.5. Lady Gaga, who sponsors the Lady Gaga Pro-Am Bowling Tournament every January at the Babes & Balls Bowling Lanes on Dickinson Boulevard in historic Washerst, PA (the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson), owns an orange cat named Pumpkin Spice.

6. In the late-1800s, pumpkin spice was mixed with an autointoxication regime to cure a painful gastro-intestinal condition known as “melon bowels.”

8. In the 1980s, Cottonelle introduced a two-ply toilet tissue with pumpkin spice, but it was discontinued a few months later when it was found to cause an inflammation and discoloration of the skin called pumpkin rash.

The entire pumpkin spice craze began in the late-1800s due to a poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin twice removed -- at her request). We wrote about it recently HERE. The fad took off ever since, and there seems to be no letting up. We even shared a recent post with some of the most popular pumpkin spice recipes from the kitchens of the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum's snack bar. The recipes are HERE.

Some, though, say that the PS-craze has gone too far -- and they point to the many products shown below to show that the world has gone pumpkin-spice crazy!

Below: Many products now contain pumpkin spice, including Harris' Bed Bug Killer, most major gasolines, Suprep's Bowel Prep Kit for colonoscopies, and various brands of pumpkin pie filler. Click the images to enlarge.

Of course, every year when the PS-season is over, it feels like an eternity until pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin muffins, and other pumpkin spiced products return -- but to those who partake, they all agree that the long wait was worth it, just like Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote in his poem "Renewed Significance a thirsty man attaches" (below on the left). Who knows -- maybe his poem motivated third cousin Emily to sip a pumpkin spice latte -- but it most certainly did inspire her to pen her poem "Undue Significance a starving man attaches" (below on the right).​

Below: For years Bill O'Reilly railed against the War on Pumpkin Spice Season because many non-spicers refused to acknowledge, recognize, and legitimize the pumpkin spice season in government, media, advertising, and retail.

The pumpkin spice craze started back in the late 1800s after Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed --at her request) published his poem "Would you like Autumn? Taste of ours." You can read the poem and all about the origin of the pumpkin spice craze HERE.

The PS-craze is still going strong, so we thought we'd share some of the more popular pumpkin-spice recipes from the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum kitchens.

Whether you try one or try them all, you're sure to savor the zest of pumpkin spice!​

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves change color autumn-atically, and the lattes include pumpkin spice! #PSL, amirite?Did you know that Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) was the first to add pumpkin spice to autumn? That’s right – it stems from his poem “Would you like autumn? Taste of ours” (below on the left). Of course, Dickinson emphasized many of the likeable features of fall in his poem: homemade apple cobblers, colorful foliage, invigorating weather, and even festive celebrations like Octoberfest and Halloween!So take a look below at Dickinson’s poem, and perhaps it will inspire you to add some pumpkin spice to your next latte. Or maybe it will inspire you to write a your own poem about autumn – even though it motivated his third cousin Emily to write about summer in “Would you like summer? Taste of ours” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Would you like autumn? Taste of ours.Spices? Pumpkin!Chill! We have apples, for the cobbler!Wistful! Leaves falling down!Effects! Estates of violet maples to​ look upon!Active! We bring relief with breezes!Festing! Steins of beer!Even for Death, a scary skeleton.But, which is it, sir?​

By Emily Dickinson:

Would you like summer? Taste of ours.Spices? Buy here!Ill! We have berries, for the parching!Weary! Furloughs of down!Perplexed! Estates of violet trouble ne'er​ looked on!Captive! We bring reprieve of roses!Fainting! Flasks of air!Even for Death, a fairy medicine.But, which is it, sir?​

​Below: Only a small fraction of the products that have been pumpkin spiced -- all thanks to Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem:

Today, September 19th, is "Talk Like a Pirate Day" -- but while it's all fun and games for most, do you know even know the history of the day?

"Talk Like a Pirate Day" began in 1883 when Adolphus Alcott Chamberlain, a world-renowned stage actor and president of the Emmett Lee Dickinson International Society (a precursor to the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts), created a week's worth of "Talk Like" days in honor of Emmett Lee Dickinson and his poetry. The first day of the week-long event was "Talk Like a Pirate Day," inspired by Dickinson's poem "On this wondrous sea – sailing gallantly" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem motivated third cousin Emily to pen her poem "On this wondrous sea - sailing silently" (below on the right).

Pictured at the right: World famous stage actor Adolphus Alcott Chamberlain, a past president of the Emmett Lee Dickinson International Society and the creator of "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (and other "Talk Like" days). ​

In the silent WestMany - the sails at rest -Then anchors fast.Thither I pilot thee -Land! Ho! Eternity!Ashore at last!

Below: All of the various days in Adolphus Alcott Chamberlain's week-long series of "Talk Like" days:

September 19: Talk Like a Pirate DaySeptember 20: Talk Like a Pilot DaySeptember 21: Talk About Pyrite DaySeptember 22: Talk Like a Private DaySeptember 23: Talk LIke a Psychic DaySeptember 24: Tallk Like a Parrot DaySeptember 25: Talk Like a Parent Day

Did you know that the Emmy Awards are named for Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request)?

Three related but separate organizations present the Emmy Awards – the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (IATAS). In 1949, the organizations agreed that the awards should be named for Dickinson. In the words of Algernon Parnell Kenwicks, the first president of the NATAS, “no other individual has affected the field of television and television programming than Emmett Lee Dickinson.”

At first the awards were known as the Emmetts, but the industry soon began referring to them as the Emmys for “Emmy,” the nickname that Emmett Lee Dickinson’s mother called her son.

For complete information about the connection between Emmett Lee Dickinson and the industry of television sciences and programming, click HERE.

Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote various poems in the 1800s that seemed to foretell the coming of the television industry. For that reason, many in the field refer to Dickinson as a tele-visionary. One of his most famous poems about TV is "These -- Televisions" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "These -- saw Visions" (below on the right).